WWS 1st half burst overwhelms Batavia
Hadzic nets pair, Tigers score 4 goals in 13-minute span
By Curt Herron
BATAVIA - When a team scores two goals in a short amount of time to help them to a 4-0 first half lead and then only allows one goal after that, it's a good performance.
And when players on the opposing squad continue to battle and put together some of their most consistent play of the season, that's an equally impressive showing.
That's what played out Thursday when visiting Wheaton Warrenville South captured a 4-1 DuKane Conference victory over Batavia at Bulldogs Stadium.
Melisa Hadzic scored two goals and assisted on another, Emma Showman added a goal and an assist, Lauren Barnett also scored and Rebecca Hauenstein had two assists for the Tigers (3-3-0, 2-2-0), who got two goals within a 74-second span to help them build up a 4-0 advantage in the 27th minute.
But to their credit, the Bulldogs (2-4-0, 2-2-0) kept battling and had a number of good chances after that. They connected on one in the second half on a goal by Bella Lins off an assist by Ashley Whelpley.
After Batavia's Riley DiBiase and Whelpley had attempts stopped by Tigers keeper Caroline Spayth, the Tigers struck in the 15th minute when their co-captains combined. Hauenstein sent a pass to Hadzic, who got past a defender and sent a shot past keeper Morgan Haug for her first goal.
In the 16th minute, Hadzic flicked a short corner kick to Showman, who fired in a liner that found the opposite side of the net to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
"I felt in the first half that we just went hard and definitely this was a boost of confidence," Hadzic said. "We have a lot of people who are stepping up in roles that they usually wouldn't fill, which has been a key factor for us. I just think that the more that we play, the stronger we are as a unit, and the better we play the more that we play. There's a lot of different personalities on this team that everyone brings. We have a competitive edge, and we have fun. It's a really great time to be together."
South went up 3-0 in the 23rd minute after Showman's free kick was deflected. Barnett found the loose ball and put it away.
Then, shortly after being denied on a shot, Hauenstein sent a pass to Hadzic who connected for the second time.
Despite being down by four goals, the Bulldogs had several good chances before the break. Laila Figueras, DiBiase and Avery Solomon were all denied by Spayth, and defender Mallory Cadagin deflected an attempt by Johanna Shubert.
"It started out a little tough since we weren't used to playing with each other," said Spayth of the Tigers' start to the season. "There were a lot of us who have played together and a lot of us who have not.
“I think that we've done a good job of progressing after every game. We've taken something from each game and learned from it, and today was a good example of how we've improved. We're all really passionate, and we all want to get better as a team."
The Tigers performed well in all aspects during the opening half, and that's a good sign for the remainder of the season.
"What really helped us in this game was that we really got used to playing in the middle with our mids," Cadagin said. "In the previous games, we weren't using them as much and weren't working as a team. We were kind of just playing from the defense to the forwards.
“Today we did a really good job of transitioning and covering for each other. We're really starting to jell together. We're basically a new group since we didn't have last year and a lot of us are playing new positions, so it's taken a while to get used to it."
Coach Guy Callipari is pleased by what he's seen from his Tigers, not only in this match but also with how they've been progressing.
"It was an exceptional first half," Callipari said. "That's when both teams are fresh, so we can educate ourselves on what we're capable of doing in that situation.
“We changed up the lineup just a little bit. The backs are coming together, and the defense is starting to play with a little cohesiveness and ideas. And everybody gets to play, and we get out of here without an injury, which is a good thing when we're being stretched so much since we don't have a deep bench at this point."
The Tigers opened the final half with good chances from Kate Hartnett and Barnett before the Bulldogs collected on their lone goal in the 57th minute when Whelpley sent a pass to Lins, who fired in a liner to complete the scoring.
"I think we did a really great job in this game in comparison to the rest of our games," Batavia defender Caitlin Callahan said. "We worked really well as a team, and we finally found our groove. We had a lot of good possession and kept with it. We fought back really well and never gave up and everyone kept working as a team and we didn't give up until the buzzer.
“We have a lot of new, young girls. I think they've done a great job stepping up and working well as a team, and we've been bonding really well."
After Hadzic and Showman were denied on chances, the Bulldogs kept the pressure on with DiBiase, Carlin King, Shubert and Whelpley all getting off attempts during the final 10 minutes of the match.
"At halftime, we had a really good talk about communicating with each other and overall just working together as a team," Shubert said. "In the second half, we said that the score was 0-0. We were just coming back out to fight and to play and communicate with each other as a team.
“From the very beginning of the season, I think that we've already come a very long way. I think that we're going to keep growing together and learning from each other to work together as a team."
Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco has a young team with little varsity experience so he knows that it's going to take some time for things to come together.
"We had a five-minute dip where they made us pay," Gianfrancesco said. "They scored three goals and all of a sudden, we were shell-shocked and couldn't get one and move on from that.
“We really didn't make them pay in the offensive end. We had a couple of chances when we were on the doorstep, and if we just hit one of those, I think that changes it a little bit. It's just learning that and figuring it out and growing together.
"Ashley is really the only one that had any varsity experience at all, so we're kind of just starting from scratch and people are trying to figure each other out. We have four different grade levels.
“On Tuesday (a 7-0 win vs. Glenbard North), it seemed like things were clicking a little bit, and it seemed like it was clicking even more today with some of the connections on the passes and the communication.
“I think we're moving in the right direction and just have to finish a few more chances and be smarter in the offensive third."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
G - Caroline Spayth
D - Mallory Cadagin
D - Olivia Vassios
D - Ella McClatchy
D - Elise Farrell
M- Melisa Hadzic
M - Emma Showman
M - Mia McCoyd
F - Rebecca Hauenstein
F - Lauren Barnett
F - Kate Hartnett
Batavia
G - Morgan Haug
D - Kyla Mackenzie
D - Mia Anzalone
D - Caitlin Callahan
D - Carlin King
M - Ashley Whelpley
M - Riley DiBiase
M - Avery Solomon
F - Bella Lins
F - Johanna Shubert
F - Laila Figueras
MVP of the Match: Melisa Hadzic, sr., MF, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
WWS - Hadzic (Hauenstein), 15
WWS - Showman (Hadzic), 16
WWS - Barnett (Showman), 23
WWS - Hadzic (Hauenstein), 27
Second half
Bat - Lins (Whelpley), 57
Hadzic nets pair, Tigers score 4 goals in 13-minute span
By Curt Herron
BATAVIA - When a team scores two goals in a short amount of time to help them to a 4-0 first half lead and then only allows one goal after that, it's a good performance.
And when players on the opposing squad continue to battle and put together some of their most consistent play of the season, that's an equally impressive showing.
That's what played out Thursday when visiting Wheaton Warrenville South captured a 4-1 DuKane Conference victory over Batavia at Bulldogs Stadium.
Melisa Hadzic scored two goals and assisted on another, Emma Showman added a goal and an assist, Lauren Barnett also scored and Rebecca Hauenstein had two assists for the Tigers (3-3-0, 2-2-0), who got two goals within a 74-second span to help them build up a 4-0 advantage in the 27th minute.
But to their credit, the Bulldogs (2-4-0, 2-2-0) kept battling and had a number of good chances after that. They connected on one in the second half on a goal by Bella Lins off an assist by Ashley Whelpley.
After Batavia's Riley DiBiase and Whelpley had attempts stopped by Tigers keeper Caroline Spayth, the Tigers struck in the 15th minute when their co-captains combined. Hauenstein sent a pass to Hadzic, who got past a defender and sent a shot past keeper Morgan Haug for her first goal.
In the 16th minute, Hadzic flicked a short corner kick to Showman, who fired in a liner that found the opposite side of the net to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
"I felt in the first half that we just went hard and definitely this was a boost of confidence," Hadzic said. "We have a lot of people who are stepping up in roles that they usually wouldn't fill, which has been a key factor for us. I just think that the more that we play, the stronger we are as a unit, and the better we play the more that we play. There's a lot of different personalities on this team that everyone brings. We have a competitive edge, and we have fun. It's a really great time to be together."
South went up 3-0 in the 23rd minute after Showman's free kick was deflected. Barnett found the loose ball and put it away.
Then, shortly after being denied on a shot, Hauenstein sent a pass to Hadzic who connected for the second time.
Despite being down by four goals, the Bulldogs had several good chances before the break. Laila Figueras, DiBiase and Avery Solomon were all denied by Spayth, and defender Mallory Cadagin deflected an attempt by Johanna Shubert.
"It started out a little tough since we weren't used to playing with each other," said Spayth of the Tigers' start to the season. "There were a lot of us who have played together and a lot of us who have not.
“I think that we've done a good job of progressing after every game. We've taken something from each game and learned from it, and today was a good example of how we've improved. We're all really passionate, and we all want to get better as a team."
The Tigers performed well in all aspects during the opening half, and that's a good sign for the remainder of the season.
"What really helped us in this game was that we really got used to playing in the middle with our mids," Cadagin said. "In the previous games, we weren't using them as much and weren't working as a team. We were kind of just playing from the defense to the forwards.
“Today we did a really good job of transitioning and covering for each other. We're really starting to jell together. We're basically a new group since we didn't have last year and a lot of us are playing new positions, so it's taken a while to get used to it."
Coach Guy Callipari is pleased by what he's seen from his Tigers, not only in this match but also with how they've been progressing.
"It was an exceptional first half," Callipari said. "That's when both teams are fresh, so we can educate ourselves on what we're capable of doing in that situation.
“We changed up the lineup just a little bit. The backs are coming together, and the defense is starting to play with a little cohesiveness and ideas. And everybody gets to play, and we get out of here without an injury, which is a good thing when we're being stretched so much since we don't have a deep bench at this point."
The Tigers opened the final half with good chances from Kate Hartnett and Barnett before the Bulldogs collected on their lone goal in the 57th minute when Whelpley sent a pass to Lins, who fired in a liner to complete the scoring.
"I think we did a really great job in this game in comparison to the rest of our games," Batavia defender Caitlin Callahan said. "We worked really well as a team, and we finally found our groove. We had a lot of good possession and kept with it. We fought back really well and never gave up and everyone kept working as a team and we didn't give up until the buzzer.
“We have a lot of new, young girls. I think they've done a great job stepping up and working well as a team, and we've been bonding really well."
After Hadzic and Showman were denied on chances, the Bulldogs kept the pressure on with DiBiase, Carlin King, Shubert and Whelpley all getting off attempts during the final 10 minutes of the match.
"At halftime, we had a really good talk about communicating with each other and overall just working together as a team," Shubert said. "In the second half, we said that the score was 0-0. We were just coming back out to fight and to play and communicate with each other as a team.
“From the very beginning of the season, I think that we've already come a very long way. I think that we're going to keep growing together and learning from each other to work together as a team."
Bulldogs coach Mark Gianfrancesco has a young team with little varsity experience so he knows that it's going to take some time for things to come together.
"We had a five-minute dip where they made us pay," Gianfrancesco said. "They scored three goals and all of a sudden, we were shell-shocked and couldn't get one and move on from that.
“We really didn't make them pay in the offensive end. We had a couple of chances when we were on the doorstep, and if we just hit one of those, I think that changes it a little bit. It's just learning that and figuring it out and growing together.
"Ashley is really the only one that had any varsity experience at all, so we're kind of just starting from scratch and people are trying to figure each other out. We have four different grade levels.
“On Tuesday (a 7-0 win vs. Glenbard North), it seemed like things were clicking a little bit, and it seemed like it was clicking even more today with some of the connections on the passes and the communication.
“I think we're moving in the right direction and just have to finish a few more chances and be smarter in the offensive third."
Starting lineups
Wheaton Warrenville South
G - Caroline Spayth
D - Mallory Cadagin
D - Olivia Vassios
D - Ella McClatchy
D - Elise Farrell
M- Melisa Hadzic
M - Emma Showman
M - Mia McCoyd
F - Rebecca Hauenstein
F - Lauren Barnett
F - Kate Hartnett
Batavia
G - Morgan Haug
D - Kyla Mackenzie
D - Mia Anzalone
D - Caitlin Callahan
D - Carlin King
M - Ashley Whelpley
M - Riley DiBiase
M - Avery Solomon
F - Bella Lins
F - Johanna Shubert
F - Laila Figueras
MVP of the Match: Melisa Hadzic, sr., MF, Wheaton Warrenville South
Scoring summary
First half
WWS - Hadzic (Hauenstein), 15
WWS - Showman (Hadzic), 16
WWS - Barnett (Showman), 23
WWS - Hadzic (Hauenstein), 27
Second half
Bat - Lins (Whelpley), 57